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December 09, 2008

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Capitol Fax's Rich Miller updates the state of the speculation on the identity of "Senate Candidate 5," the public official who -- from the complaint -- appears to be in the most jeopardy, aside from Blagojevich and Harris. "Senate Candidate 5." He thinks its either Emil Jones or Jesse Jackson, Jr., though it's conceivable that others would fit the description.

Though Fitzgerald warned us not to cast aspersions based on Blagojevich's version of other people's words, this is the damning quote: “We were approached ‘pay to play.’ That, you know, he’d raise me 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him (Senate Candidate 5) a Senator.”

Here's what we know. Candidate 5 is:

-"publicly reported to be interested in the open Senate seat"

- not who Blagojevich thought Obama wanted

- not someone with whom, by November 10, Blagojevich had a "long, productive discussion"

- someone with fundraising wherewithal who could produce something "tangible up front"

The complaint also says that on November 10, Blagojevich told an advisor to leak to the Sun-Times's Michael Sneed that Blagojevich "is seriously considering Senate Candidate 5 for the open Senate seat" and that the advisor agreed to call the Sun-Times to leak the story, apparently false, that Blagojevich
end of the conversation Advisor A agreed to call the Sun Times columnist to leak the story had a “long, productive discussion” with Candidate 5.

Well, the complaint also says that Blago will meet with candidate 5 "in a few days" after Dec. 4th. He met with Jackson on the 8th. Not sure if he met with Jones anytime b/w 12/4 and today. Jackson seems to fit that detail, assuming the meeting actually took place.

It's a little too cute. The indictment earlier specifies that the first time Blago ordered something leaked to Sneed, it appeared in his column. This time, there's no such mention. Since having the name appear in the column provides evidence that the talk was not idle, if it had shown up in Sneed's column, we would expect to see it in the indictment. Thus, the mention of Jones by Sneed is evidence that Candidate 5 is not Jones.
It's also worth bearing in mind that Blago was setting up a meeting with Candidate 5 over the past week. He met with Jackson; he didn't meet with Jones.

Do we need to start talking about money in politics again?
Is it legal to transfer money from one candidate's campaign fund to anothers?
I thought Emil Jones was Obama's early mentor. Why would Obama not want Jones to have his Senate seat?

Sorry, All he and Emil distribution food on Thanksgiving at a food depository. And, Emil was the last to jump in thus Candidate Five, Jackson was on the list and its speculated that O wanted Jackson, which is why Blago is expecting favors from President-Elect. Just my observations.

@MY WORLD
Umm, Valerie Jarrett is Candidate 1. If you actually read the complaint, it appears that Blagojevich wasn't going to appoint Jarrett because Obama's team wasn't going to offer anything in return. In fact, Rahm may have went to the Feds when Blagojevich proposed this quid pro quo.
And what does the fact that she was born in Shiraz have to do with anything?

Based on Ben's latest post that includes a quote from Emil Jones, I don't think Candidate 5 is Jones. I wouldn't be calling this mess "shocking" if I were Candidate 5. (unless, of course, he was in on a Fitz sting)

Remember that the candidate numbers are chosen by the D.A.'s office, thus the numbering does not have to be sequential. Just because JJJ was in the mix early, does not necessarily mean he would be assigned a lower number.

I do believe in my heart that Obama is fairly clean, which is all you can ask of someone surrounded by this mess.
I wonder if Al Sharpton or JJ will speak on the issue: http://tinyurl.com/58e8y7
And just so you guys know, using all caps immediately discredits you.

hey myworld.. u totally do not read.. valerie jarrett.. took herself out of the running loser. She is going to be white house aid.. and has already been appointed that position. Try all u want to paint barack as the criminal your Puppet Bush is.. but its not going to work .. you idiot!

Kenneth Rios - "Anyone who plays-to-pay deserves jail; despite the fact that we all love capital, the rich should not be allowed to buy offices that represent the people."
These are not rich people buying offices. These are poor hardworking politicians who have saved up the bribes they've earned in lesser offices. They figure the money would be well invested in a Senate seat because the bribes there are much better.

Not even close to BHO. O has known this is a scumbag and wouldn't even think about making any kind of an arrangement. P-E BHO doesn't do stuff like this. Haven't you wingnuts figured that out yet? There's not even a hint of there, there. So don't get your hopes up.

yah my world! that means U! Typing in caps.. doesnt make your right winged version of this story any more credible. As a barack supporter.. we all know it is jesse jackson jr. But dont try to bring down a president elect.. who has not had anything to do with this.. you guys are just bitter that you guys lost the election.. it was not even close . get over it. You guys lost by 7% points.. thats a landslide when it comes to elections. and electoral colege.. wise not even close.. give it up.. give ur hate.. and while ur at it give ur endless try to paint hi, as a non us citizen.

ofcourse you would be nervous.. if you had the right wind media aka drudge, politico.. try to smear him and the dumbest of all RNC trying to tie him to blago. Can you even beleive the audacity of the RNC.. they just lost by epic proportions.. the presidency... dems almost got a super majorty in the senate and the congress.. and they still try to continue their failed path of trying to bring obama down.. 79% of the country approves of his transition.. and by the way it is no way compared to how nervous W looks every single time he is on T.V

post my comments politico!!! Obama has nothing to do with this.. while you all right wing nuts try to tie to him.. and the RNC can try all they want.. they have no shame.. after losing badly.. they should be worried about their party recovering.. the public has such a negative perception of them.. they should try to start acting a little decent.. by just trying to blame the PEBO for every wrong thing.
Bad economy- blame obama
Blago aka crook-blame obama

Obama is already out there saying "He knows nothing."
There are transcripts of Obama, Rahm Emanuel and other members of the transition team, meeting with Blago about BHO's successor.
These transcripts should be made public IMMEDIATELY- along with the birth certificate, college transcripts and medical records.
IF Obama is prevented from taking office because he is not eligible- LEGALLY- to be POTUS, then we won't have 4 years of an inexperienced Chicago thug president, who will have to run the country, fix the economy and be hiring lawyers and running back and forth to Chicago for depositions.
You could write this crap!

It's Jackson, and he is a great fundraiser. Or his dad is. Check out JJJ on the FEC database. He is known for his ability to raise money from outsiders.
No way could Emil Jones transfer $500 m to Obama--I don't even think you can do that with campaign money. Besides Jones and Obama are very close.

People have to be careful about what they assume here. EVERYONE knew Blago was under federal investigation (including Blago). Anything this crook said can't be taken at face value. The feds already had him for corruption and he knew it. Add to this, Blago is hated by Illinois Dems (the Speaker of the House has long refused to be in the same room with him and has publicly been "researching" impeachment and suit versus the esteemed Gov). So, just keep the background in mind...

Watch the video on Politico 44. When Obama has to deceive or lie for political purposes (e.g., I was not in church on "those particular days"), he typically is very careful with his words (unlike Biden who just blusters through his lies). You can atually tell when Obama is deceiving because he becomes extra careful with his words. In the video, near the end when he takes one question because he wanted to state that he -- "I" -- had no contact with the Governor or his office, Obama messed up and said "We," which he quickly corrected to say "I." Thus, my interpretation is that Obama has set up deniability by not personally talking to Blago about the sale of the senate seat, but he knows his people were involved in those discussions and he had to go back and make sure he said "I" not "We." Fascinating. I think there is about a 25% chance that Obama winds up indicted for something out of the Chicago swampland.

This apparently is the exact quote of where Obama switched from "we" to "I" in order to try to avoid getting caught in something that likey will be easy to prove as a lie. He probably can get away with the "I" comment because he either did not have a recent contact or he did not have one can be proved (absent secret taping or Blogo singing like a canary) and because the press will not be out to get Obama.
"I had no contact with the governor or his office and so we were not, I was not aware of what was happening."

Maybe Obama didn't connect with the Governor directly, but someone in the transition certainly was dealing with this. These guys are too smart not to know of anything which could put them in a bad light. They'll from Chicago for God's sake. Axelrod is one of the smartest guys in the room. He wouldn't tell a Chicago TV station that Obama had spoken to the Governor unless it happened. Where was Rahm Emanuel in all of this. He certainly was just as tough a customer as Blago. Whoever replaces Obama in the seat is a big deal and for anyone to think that the President-Elect was not aware of what was going on, at least with the candidate shuffle is kidding themselves.

Jesse Jackson was widely reported to be the choice of BO. I even think this was reported on CNN at one point. Now Davis had an interview where he never denied he was candidate 5 when directly asked. Emil definatley couldve met with Blago in the time frame mentioned. He was one of the last to throw his hat in the race. I feel its Danny or Emil. Its definately not Jackson. Its also possible that Candidate 5 was working with the Feds. Hmmmm

SC ~ It's not that Obama doesn't like Jones, it's that he knows Jones would have one - and only one - goal in getting the Senate seat: to get paid as much as he could rake in as fast as he could rake it in. Behavior which passes notice in Illinois would attract much in DC, especially the brazen sort one expects of anyone who might be "doing business" with Blago.
The last thing Obama wants is a Chicago scandal explosion in his first year. It would not only weaken his ability to set the agenda, but could well cripple his reelection hopes. Blago, Jones, Rezko . . . a little close for comfort, wouldn't you say?

Yah, Bill Clinton said the SAME THING, "I did not have relation/sexual with that woman".
JESSE JACKSON JR., "I did not have anything to do with it".
Obama's Ratings will be at 20% in 2 years, only his faithful Black constituents, they will never speak against their fellow Blacks, that's why they voted Black!
If Jamal on the Corner that sells Crack said, "I don't sell crack" yet he was on film selling crack, the Blacks would believe him.
Wake Up people, you got duped, by a Con!
Wake Up before you HAVE TO WAKE UP, after your noses are rubbed into it!

talk to the Governor about Jesse Jackson Jr., but why then is Michelle Obama all over the Transcripts of the Tapes????????
There's TON's more to come out of this!
And remember what the FBI said about Illinois being the MOST Corrupt Polititians!
It's comin' people, the day of reconing for the Con Job too many fell for!
He's just like ALL the Illinois Politicians, CORRUPT, and you will have to 'FACE IT' sooner or later!

For all that believe in Jesse 'Pinnocchio' Jackson Jr., read this:
http://chicago.fbi.gov/dojpressrel08/dec09_08.htm
It's what was said yesterday by the Department of Justice spokesperson!
Read especially paragraph #4, then on to #5!!
This is going to be a WHOPPER!